Contents

Understand

Perisher Blue was originally four separate ski fields: Perisher, Smiggins Hole, Blue Cow and Guthega. It is now a single resort, sharing lift passes and are all linked through a variety of lifts and the ski-tube railway. Perisher Blue has 50 lifts.

Get in

If you live interstate, you can catch a flight from most major cities direct to Canberra. Coaches are available from Canberra direct to Perisher Blue.

Perisher is about 2.5 hours drive from Canberra, and about 5.5 hours drive from Sydney.

The Skitube Alpine Railway runs from Bullocks Flat near Jindabyne up through the national park and into Perisher. This is the usual way for people staying in Jindabyne to reach the snow, and you can get lift passes that include the railway. Plenty of parking is available at Bullocks Flat. The tube itself is very crowded throughout the day. Naturally it has places to rest your skis or boards, the issue is finding a place to sit or stand yourself.

Get around

There are two Skitube stops within the resort itself: Perisher Valley (close to lifts up Mount Perisher and Back Perisher Mountain) and Blue Cow (close to lifts up Mount Blue Cow and to the snow traverse to the Guthega area). You can use the Skitube to transfer between the two. However, most travel within the resort is done either on ski or snowboard, or by the lifts.

There is a shuttle bus that runs between Perisher Valley and the Smiggins Holes.

When staying within Perisher on the snow you can't actually drive your car up to the resort due to the roads being too hard to maintain and the fact they don't want a million cars going up to the lodges a day, so you have to rely on two things one you're strong and can walk your gear up or you can rely on Han's oversnow or any of the other over snow vehicles who will drop you right at the door with your gear for about $10 per a person. Check with where you are staying because some may do free lifts after a certain time.

Cars are not allowed to stay within the national park at Perisher over night so for those staying within the National Park someone will have to drive the car to the Ski Tube terminal in Bullocks Flat and catch the Ski Tube back to Perisher. It may sound like a hassle but it is far better this way then driving everyday from Jindabyne or catching the Ski Tube everyday.

See

Skiing is what Perisher village is all about. It is accessible in summer, but there are no lifts operating, and not much to see. , and it is very quiet. Consider nearby Thredbo as a summer destination nearby.

Do

Skiing and snowboarding

The entire resort is open to both skiers and snowboarders. There are beginner and all-mountain lift passes available for 1, 3 or 5 days.

Lessons

Perisher Blue offers both skiing and snowboarding lessons. There are five grades of lessons ranging from complete beginner to parallel turns (skiers) and intermediate terrain (snowboarders) together with a special advanced class covering advanced runs (skiers) and half pipes (snowboarders).

Group lessons run for upto 2.5 hours with both a morning and afternoon session both taking place in either Perisher Valley or Blue Cow.

Classes run three times a day from Perisher, Smiggin Holes and Blue Cow bases. Adults and children have separate classes with about 15 students per class. Private or small group lessons that run from 1 to 2 hours are available on a pre-booked or walk-in basis.

The Children

Perisher Blue has a few ways to keep the children out of your hair, whether it be full day or half day ski lessons or placing them within in child care facilities. All of these can be found within the snowsports area of the Perisher Blue Website [2].

Tube Town

If the children are looking for something different and to place further stress on your empty pockets then Tube Town is located to the far side of Perisher Valley as you enter the parking area it is hard to miss as the toboggans are located just to the side of it. Tube town has snow making and lighting

Eat

Aldo's located within the Perisher Valley Ski tube terminal it is an excellent Italian & Pizza restaurant it closes during dinner but it is none the less an excellent place to go and have a great lunch. The place leaves many raving about the food.

JAX The local pub down in perisher valley has a very unorthodox approach to your meal, basically you pick the cut of meat or chicken you want and then you head over to the grill where you can cook it up to perfection your way, you then get a all you can eat one serving of salads ranging from pasta, potato and normal salads.

Ski Tube Donut Store A donut store located on the platform for the ski tube at the Perisher stop. The best warm snack after a days boarding or skiing. Made fresh when you order.

Get out

If you get over the snow (Not likely), you could always head over to Jindabyne as it is the closest town to perisher and the central hub to the Perisher Snow Season. What your gonna do there l have no clue, but hey go give it a shot if you have some time.

If the environment's your thing go and check out the Snowy Hydro plant where all the snow run off is turned into hydroelectricity.